Also from November 22
Lead stories
9:03 a.m.
Dr. Lowe acquitted of theft- November 18, 2011
- The high profile investigation of a popular Payson doctor that started more than a year ago concluded Tuesday with a jury returning a not guilty verdict. Dr. Michael P. Lowe was acquitted of taking over the nearly $600,000 estate of a former patient illegally, putting an end to what many supporters called a “witch hunt.”
2:36 p.m.
Construction on pipeline project starts in March- November 22, 2011
- After a year of logjams, work on the Blue Ridge pipeline has suddenly hit flood stage. Construction on the $30 million to $40 million pipeline will start in the early spring and Payson has moved toward getting its construction permits approved by the Forest Service and an application for long-term financing approved by the federal government.
All stories
- Geronimo estates water restored, battle rages on
- November 22, 2011
- Geronimo Estates homeowners got their water service restored Friday, after the Arizona Corporation Commission ordered Steve Prahin to give Brooke Utilities access to a disputed well and water tank. “The water was back on Friday,” said commission spokesperson Rebecca Wilder. The corporation commission’s order left undecided the long-running, underlying dispute between Prahin and the private water company about who owns the well.
- Property taxes make Rim residents mad
- November 22, 2011
- Residents from Christopher Creek, Kohl’s Ranch and surrounding areas angrily complained about property taxes higher than those of other Rim Country residents at a Christopher-Kohl’s Fire District board meeting Nov. 7. Gila County Supervisor Tommie Martin and Deputy County Manager John Nelson tried to explain why taxes increased as property values decreased.
- Construction on pipeline project starts in March
- Payson applies for low-interest federal loans to finance $33 million pipeline project
- November 22, 2011
- After a year of logjams, work on the Blue Ridge pipeline has suddenly hit flood stage. Construction on the $30 million to $40 million pipeline will start in the early spring and Payson has moved toward getting its construction permits approved by the Forest Service and an application for long-term financing approved by the federal government.
- Ax wielding man reportedly sets home on fire
- November 22, 2011
- A neighborly dispute turned violent Friday afternoon when a man reportedly threw an ax through a neighbor’s window and then a can of burning stove fuel. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Daniel Denuzzi, 45, of Star Valley, on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, attempted homicide, arson of an occupied structure, criminal damage, disorderly conduct and threats and intimidation.
- Star Valley still looking into Blue Ridge
- November 22, 2011
- Saying it would look into every water supply option, the Star Valley council moved forward in pursuing a share of water from the Blue Ridge pipeline. With the deadline for making an allocation request approaching, the council instructed water attorney Karen Nalley at a Nov. 15 council meeting to look into cost, need and return with answers quickly.
- Community Almanac
- November 22, 2011
- The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Payson, Bashas’ Supermarket and Channel 12 News will join to collect turkeys once again this year. Last year, St. Vincent de Paul distributed 350 turkey dinner boxes. This year, the need is even greater. The work cannot be done without the generosity of the citizens of Payson and the surrounding the communities.
- Property tax assessment is a grim joke
- November 22, 2011
- The property tax from the Gila County assessors is a grim joke on the taxpayers.
- The gift of Thanksgiving alive in Payson
- November 22, 2011
- As Thanksgiving returns to us in 2011, I am the most thankful I have ever been in my 70 years of celebrating holidays.
- Time to register to vote
- November 22, 2011
- The countdown to the 2012 presidential election is now less than 12 months away.
- Justice has prevailed for Dr. Lowe
- November 22, 2011
- I have not known of a local news story that has been more widely discussed than that concerning the criminal charges brought against Dr. Michael Lowe.
- The tax man cometh and we’re confused
- November 22, 2011
- You get the heebie-jeebies every time you check the real estate ads during the last few years and watch property values plummet and your life’s savings evaporate before your eyes. Few people are buying or selling — except that place two streets over that listed for $194,000 and sold for $74,000. What a disaster. Well, there’s one silver lining, you tell yourself. After all of those years watching your property taxes rise with your home value — at least your property taxes will now drop back into the lower atmosphere.
- New instructor teaches ancient art of ceramics
- November 22, 2011
- “This is one of the oldest art forms that’s ever been or will be,” said David Sanchez, the ceramics instructor at Gila Community College (GCC). Evidence of pottery used as vessels dates from 16,000 B.C., according to a University of Cleveland Web site. Although ceramics can survive thousands of years buried in archaeological digs, Sanchez’s class follows the rule: “Don’t fall in love with a piece until both firings are done.” Even then, transporting the piece home could prove fatal, (one student dropped her vase in the parking lot). Once home, the piece could come crashing to the ground in an accident.
- Payson schools get grant from high-tech company
- November 22, 2011
- Robert Georgeoff got himself a nice one-of-a-kind, $30,000 desktop nameplate yesterday — courtesy of tomorrow’s engineering whizzes and a Rubik’s Cube genius. The Tempe-based alternative energy company Georgeoff heads donated the $30,000 last week to support the Payson Unified School District’s innovative, project-based engineering program. And after he took a tour of one of the two sections of eager freshmen, they cranked out the desktop nameplate from their brand new three-dimensional printer —that can produce objects from molded plastic that the students have designed.
- Thanksgiving celebrations
- November 22, 2011
- Rim Country residents and visitors are invited to join the congregations of the Community Presbyterian Church, Mount Cross Lutheran Church, Payson United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for an ecumenical Thanksgiving service. Hosted at the Community Presbyterian Church, 800 W. Main St., Payson, the service will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 22. One of its special features will be a musical program by the combined choirs of the four churches.
- Rim Country sales slow, but construction stirring
- Report suggests region’s economy lagging behind state, but still encouraging
- November 22, 2011
- Payson continued its slow economic recovery in October, with sales tax numbers virtually unchanged from the same month last year. However, the once-crucial building sector showed encouraging signs of life, with big increases in permits and sales. Rim Country’s economy appears to be climbing out of the crater of the recession more slowly than the rest of the state’s economy, judging by contrasting sales tax figures. For instance, Payson collected $1.6 million in sales tax revenue in the four months since the start of the fiscal year — a decline of $850 from the same period last year. Sales spiked in August, raising hopes briefly, but then subsided to match last year’s tally month by month.
- Time Out shelter receives $20,000 grant
- Mark Kay Foundation selects shelter as part of nationwide grant program
- November 22, 2011
- With a funding deficit and increased demand for services this year, the local Time Out, Inc. shelter finds itself asked to do more with less. A $20,000 grant from the Mark Kay Foundation, awarded as part of the organization’s annual $3 million national domestic violence grant program that supports shelters throughout the nation, has come just in time. “This grant is such a blessing to Time Out in a variety of ways,” said Linda Timmer, director of operations. “Not only does it make up for a deficit in funding this year, but also gives us hope and strength to continue what we do.”
- Pine students give hugs to veterans in delayed celebration
- November 22, 2011
- Students at the Pine School gave six veterans a belated Veterans Day hug of appreciation on Friday, Nov. 18. Members of the Payson Honor Guard, Sgt. Bud Huffman, Cmdr. Ken Caldwell and Cmdr. Bob Walker presented the U.S., Arizona and POW flags. Sgt. Larry Moore played Taps for the children at the school assembly. Kathy Reiger and Walter Staub sat with the Guard in a place of honor at the head of the assembly. Staub’s 13-year-old granddaughter, Brittney Staub, helped to organize the assembly with fellow student council members.
- Turkey Trot 5K draws 70 participants
- November 22, 2011
- Payson’s annual Turkey Trot 5K enjoyed a brisk, but gorgeous day with 70 participants, mostly locals. The largest field was among those 50 to 59 with 18.
- ‘3A East’ football reputation boosted at semi-finals
- November 22, 2011
- The gaudy gridiron reputation of the now defunct 3A East received yet another boost when two former members of the conference and region advanced to the Division IV state championship tournament finale by virtue of convincing semi-final wins. Playing in the final four Nov. 19 in Paradise Valley, state top-ranked Blue Ridge steamrolled previously unbeaten Chandler Seton 45-14 and Show Low unveiled a newfound running attack to defeat Florence 31-14.
- Basketball teams see plenty of home court advantage; wrestlers at home only once
- November 22, 2011
- Competing in the division-section configuration is old hat for the Longhorn wrestling team, but for the boys and girls basketball squads, it will be a first time experience. When the Arizona Interscholastic Association mandated the change, the switch last school year was only for all individual sports, such as wrestling. For team sports, such as basketball, the switch takes place this year, which means the basketball teams will no longer play in the 3A East, but rather in Division III, Section III. Just what the change will mean to Payson High School teams won’t be known until season’s end.
- Horn players earn honors
- November 22, 2011
- Payson High School coach Byron Quinlan has no qualms with the number of Longhorn football players chosen to the all section team, even though opportunities for individual prep football players to gain postseason recognition greatly decreased with this year’s reconfiguration from a conference/region to division/section format. “With 12 players (honored), I was pleased; moving from four conferences to three sections made it tough to be recognized,” said Quinlan following last week’s coaches’ voting meeting at Fountain Hills High School.
- Clubs and Organizations
- November 22, 2011
- JULIETs, Just Us Ladies Into Eating Together, meets for lunch and conversation at 11:30 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Crosswinds Restaurant at the Payson Airport. It is just for fun, no book to read, no dish to make. Everyone is welcome, no reservations required. This month the date is Tuesday, Nov. 22. Take a few minutes off to relax and have lunch during your Thanksgiving preparations. For additional information, please call Chris Tilley at (928) 468-9669.
- Thief makes off with bottle of booze from liquor store
- November 22, 2011
- What police initially thought was an attempted robbery at Rim Liquor Wednesday night turned out to be a grab and go theft.
- Bowlers raise $6,000 for Humane Society animal shelter
- November 22, 2011
- Animals at the Humane Society of Central Arizona (HSCAZ) benefited from the recent Pins for Paws event held at Rim Country Lanes. The event was sponsored by residents of Chaparral Pines, neighbors and friends.
- Community invited to make it a caring Christmas
- November 22, 2011
- The men and women of the Public Safety Christmas for Kids Program are inviting their friends and neighbors to join them in making this holiday season special for those in need. The Payson police and fire departments, officers with the local Arizona Department of Public Safety, and those with the Gila County sheriff, county attorney’s offices and the Payson court present the Public Safety Christmas for Kids Program each year. The program involves the Toys for Tamales event and taking the youngsters registered for assistance shopping.
- Supervisors decide legislative agenda for 2012
- November 22, 2011
- Supervisors from around the state gathered to rally against the threat of state prisoner transfers and mounting raids against county coffers to pad the state budget. At the annual Legislative Summit of the County Supervisors Association (CSA) held in early October, Gila County Supervisors Tommie Martin, Shirley Dawson and Mike Pastor joined nearly 40 of their fellow elected supervisors from around Arizona to establish a legislative agenda and discuss priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The group is concerned by the ongoing impact of state cost shifts onto county operations and county residents.
- TCCA brings one-man show to Rim
- November 22, 2011
- The Tonto Community Concert Association will present Chaplin - A Life In Concert, which dramatizes the life story of the brilliant, yet controversial, career of Charlie Chaplin, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29. Multi-platinum singer/songwriter David Pomeranz will perform this one-man, theatrical-musical tribute to Charlie Chaplin at the Payson High School Auditorium. Single tickets are $35 (if seating is available). Children and youth, grade 12 and under, will be admitted free when accompanied by a ticket holding adult. For more information visit the association Web site at www. tccarim.org or call 928-478-4363 or (928) 474-4189.
- Selling a home during the holidays
- November 22, 2011
- Is the holiday season a good time to sell your home? For many sellers, it is not. There are many reasons why some avoid listing, but many say they do not want to interrupt holiday festivities. Some feel it is better to wait until the New Year as there will likely be more activity and more buyers.
- State gives Rim Country Health top quality grade
- November 22, 2011
- Rim Country Health and Retirement Community is among an elite group of skilled nursing facilities. For the second year in a row, the State of Arizona has given the facility a 100 percent quality rating. The rating is the result of an inspection, which looked at every area of the nursing home, including the environment, food, activities, facility and more. Owner Harvey Pelovsky recently talked with the Roundup about the inspection and rating. “Each facility in the state is inspected every 15 months. The state comes in with the objective to find problems and deficiencies,” he said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Question of the week
Do you think new Principal Anna Van Zile has a valid idea in eliminating the Asst. Principal and replacing it with an Athletic Director position that would share her duties as Principal?
Advertisement